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Mediterranean invasive species factsheet
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Species report Siganus luridus, Dusky spinefoot
AFFILIATION
SCIENTIFIC NAME AND COMMON NAME
FISHES
REPORTS
Siganus luridus
20
Dusky spinefoot
Key Identifying Features
The body is deep, ellipsoid, and compressed; the scales
are small and embedded in the skin. The maximum
length reported is 30 cm (total length; commonly 5–20
cm).The dorsal fin (13–14 spines and 10 soft rays)
begins above the pectoral fin base. The pelvic fin begins
behind the pectoral fin base, and its inner spine is
connected by a membrane to the abdomen. The anal fin
(7 spines, 9 soft rays) begins beneath the 8th to 10th
dorsal spines and has a rounded margin. The caudal fin
is truncated. The anterior spines of the median fins are
slender and sharp, and the posterior spines are stout; all
the spines are venomous. The anterior nostril has a
long, broad flap covering the posterior nostril when
depressed. The mouth is small with distinct lips. The
maxilla does not reach the vertical plane through the
eye. The incisor teeth are in a single row. The colour is
dark brown to olive green with a touch of yellow on the
fins, but varies regionally. At night, the colour is very
mottled.
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History and Route of Introduction
The dusky spinefoot is a species usually found in the
western Indian Ocean and Red Sea. It was first recorded
in the Mediterranean in 1956 along the Israeli coast and
progressively continued its geographical expansion
through the eastern Mediterranean. In 2008, two
specimens were caught along the French Mediterranean
coast at a depth of about 5-10 m in a site mostly
characterized by rocky bottoms mixed with Posidonia
oceanica beds. In 2010, it was also recorded in two
different localities in the Adriatic Sea (Gulf of Trieste and
southern Adriatic Sea, island of Mljet). Several
specimens were also observed and photographed in
France close to the Italian border between November
2011 and July 2012.
Other species that look similar
Identification and Habitat
It occurs in small schools in shallow water close to the
bottom. It prefers hard bottoms of compacted sand with
rock, usually covered with vegetation. The adults are
solitary but groups of 3 or 4 adults have also been
observed; the juveniles form larger schools. However,
huge schools of adults (up to 5,000 individuals) are
sometimes observed along the Mediterranean coast. It
feeds on a wide range of benthic algae, mainly coarse
brown algae, but seagrasses are also reported in its diet.
Siganus luridus feeds at more or less the same rate in all
seasons. It may suddenly stop and erect its fins (dorsal,
anal and pelvic), presenting an encircling array of
venomous spines to potential predators.
Similar Species
Two species of the rabbitfish family Siganidae are now
present in the Mediterranean, both having arrived via the
Suez Canal. Siganus rivulatus, the marbled spinefoot,
can be distinguished by its forked caudal fin. Their diets
overlap considerably. Both these rabbitfish also share a
common habitat and diet with the native herbivorous fish
Sarpa salpa, the salema. The salema has characteristic
horizontal yellow lines on its body, yellow circles round
its eyes, and a black dot at the base of the pectoral fins.
2013-2015 © IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation. More info: www.iucn-medmis.org
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Further Reading
Fischer, W., M. L. Bauchot and M. Schneider (eds)
1987. Fiches FAO d’identification des espèces pour les
besoins de la pêche (Révision 1). Méditerranée et mer
Noire. Zone de pêche 37. Volume II. Vertébrés. Rome ,
FAO , Vol.2: 761–1530
http://www.ciesm.org/atlas/Siganusluridus.php
Ecological Impacts
The two species belonging to the Siganidae family,
Siganus luridus and S. rivulatus, have become very
common in most parts of the eastern Mediterranean and
strongly interact with native herbivorous fish species
through competition for food resources and habitat. The
spread of these two herbivorous species can result in a
drastic decrease in seaweed formations. Some of these,
such as Cystoseira spp. forests, are ecologically very
important as nurseries for a number of littoral fish
species. These Cystoseira forests are currently
considered to be a threatened habitat in several regions
of the Western Mediterranean. It will therefore be crucial
to monitor the establishment of rabbitfish assemblages
in the Western Mediterranean in the future.
Economic Impacts
Due to its great abundance in the Eastern
Mediterranean, the dusky spinefoot is regularly caught
by small-scale professional and non-professional fishers.
However, it is of low commercial value.
Management Options
Suggested control measures are a) early eradication of
new populations by MPA technicians through spear
fishing, and b) maintenance of healthy and abundant
predator assemblages to encourage natural control
through predation.
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Map of sightings of the species Siganus luridus, Dusky spinefoot
Legend
Algae
Molluscs
Angiosperm
Crustaceans
Combjellies /
Ctenophores
Fishes
Cnidarians
Ascidians
Centre for Mediterranean
Cooperation
More Information: Guide and reports platform for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Mediterranean. www.iucn-medmis.org
2013-2015 © IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation. More info: www.iucn-medmis.org
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MPAs, Country
Date
Patara, Turkey
Before 2013
Foca, Turkey
Before 2013
Gokova, Turkey
Before 2013
Fethiye-Gocek, Turkey
Before 2013
Kas-Kekova, Turkey
Before 2013
Miramare, Italy
Before 2013
Shiqmona, Israel
Before 2013
Goksu Deltasi, Turkey
Before 2013
Isole Pelagie, Italy
Before 2013
Datca-Bozburun, Turkey
Before 2013
Koycegiz-Dalyan, Turkey
Before 2013
La Galite archipelago, Tunisia
Before 2013
Zakynthos, Greece
Before 2013
Cote Bleue Marine, France
09/07/2008
Cote Bleue Marine, France
27/09/2008
Koycegiz-Dalyan, Turkey
23/10/2014
Datca-Bozburun, Turkey
23/10/2014
Saros Korfezi, Turkey
11/11/2014
El-Kouf, Libya
21/11/2014
Mljet, Croatia
21/11/2014
How to cite this tab:
Siganus luridus - Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet for
Mediterranean Network of MPAs. From Online Database
MedMIS (IUCN Center for Mediterranean Cooperation,
Download date 01/08/2017.
More information about this species from: Otero, M., Cebrian,
E., Francour, P., Galil, B., Savini, D. 2013. Monitoring Marine
Invasive Species in Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas
(MPAs): A strategy and practical guide for managers. Malaga,
Spain: IUCN. 136 pages
www.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2013-008-Es.pdf .
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